Russian paramilitaries in Mali kill nine, including children: HRW

Human Rights Watch alleges that the killings by Africa Corps troops took place in the presence of Malian soldiers.Russian-controlled paramilitaries in Mali have “summarily killed” nine civilians, including four children, a month after killing several others in an air strike, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.In a statement published on Thursday, HRW accused Africa Corps of carrying out the killings in the presence of Malian soldiers at the beginning of last month.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Wagner vs Africa Corps: The future of Russian paramilitaries in Malilist 2 of 3Why Mali’s northern conflict has entered a dangerous new phaselist 3 of 3Russia’s Africa Corps killed Mali civilians in air strike: HRWend of listThe rights organisation also alleged that dozens of people had been beaten and at least eight homes set ablaze.“The Malian [military government] appears to have given Russian Africa Corps forces a green light to kill civilians,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW.“The Malian authorities cannot evade legal responsibility by leaving the atrocities to the Africa Corps.“They need to promptly and impartially investigate these abuses, and hold all those responsible to account, including Malian military personnel,” Allegrozzi added.HRW interviewed witnesses to the alleged atrocities between July 19 and 30.Detailing the incident, the group said that on July 10, more than 100 Africa Corps fighters rounded up at least 80 men and boys in Bombori village in the central region of Mopti.The paramilitaries are accused of beating the men and boys in the presence of Malian soldiers while interrogating them about their alleged links to armed groups.Six civilians were shot and killed as they tried to escape, while three others were detained and executed. One of those detained was allegedly beheaded, HRW said.Mali has been fighting a civil war since 2012, when a Tuareg separatist rebellion in the north gave way to armed campaigns. The military-led government is now battling multiple armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), and has lost large swaths of territory in recent years.